NFL could see London team playing at Wembley 'by the end of the decade'

The Telegraph | Sep 24

Roger Maslin confirmed it was “unlikely” the Football Association would demand 10-year extensions when 70 per cent of corporate seats at the stadium come up for renewal in 2017.

And he revealed he would “quite possibly” offer five and seven-year packages as an alternative to those which cost a minimum of around £50000 when they were snapped up when Wembley opened back in 2007.Surveys of the Club Wembley membership revealed the number of debenture holders prepared to renew for another decade was alarmingly low with corporate customers deciding the stadium’s annual calendar of matches did not represent value for money.

“We’re looking at various options there” Maslin said speaking as the FA unveiled its financial statement for the year ending Dec 31 2012.Figures showed turnover was down slightly from £329.1 million to £317.5 million with profit also dipping from £39.9 million to £35 million partly as a result of the Olympic Games and there being no Champions League final at Wembley in 2012.

The Wembley business plan is underpinned by debentures and failure to sell them out would leave the FA scrambling around for other income.So it was no surprise to see Maslin give a ringing endorsement to the notion of the stadium becoming the permanent home of an NFL franchise or hosting the Super Bowl.

Maslin was confident the ground could stage an entire regular season of eight NFL games.

He said: “Football is our priority. But yes I’m absolutely confident that if [NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell wanted to have franchise here then we could absolutely do it.”

Maslin also expressed his desire to bring the Super Bowl to Wembley adding: “If they were bringing it anywhere in the world we want it here.”

That could happen one day according to the man in charge of American Football in Britain.